₦airaland Forum

The plan by Olusegun Abraham, one of the
governorship aspirants of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, to stop the candidature of
Mr.Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in the November 26
governorship election in Ondo State has been
disappointed. This was due to the absence of
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba who was to hear a suit
challenging the candidature of Rotimi Akeredolu.
Olusegun Abraham, who filed the suit at the Federal
High Court, Abuja, said the process
that produced Akeredolu was illegal.
He alleged that the process that produced the
defendant as APC governorship candidate was not
in conformity with the law.
Abraham through the suit is seeking an interim
order to restrain the APC from parading Akeredolu
as its governorship candidate and stop Akeredolu
from parading himself as such pending the
determination of the motion.
As the sitting for the case was to resume on
Wednesday, officials of the court informed parties
to the suit that the judge was ill
and unable to attend the day’s sitting.
Consequently, lawyers representing both parties
picked December 6 as the next adjourned date for
hearing of the case.
Others joined in the suit as defendants include APC
National Chairman, Mr. John Oyegun and the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Mr.Olusegun Abraham is the aggrieved preferred
candidate of APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed
Tinubu.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/abrahams-hope-to-stop-akeredolu.html?m=1

Crowd is never the problem in Nigeria.
Even Jimoh Ibrahim can get this crowd at same venue
The issue is how many of them have PVC and can come out that day to vote

The atmosphere outside my room on that fateful
day was calm and friendly. I could see two camels
and two turkeys
hovering around the premises. I had just finished
breakfast and spent about thirty minutes talking
about politics and the
media with my new friend Philemon. We had just
met formally that morning after discovering that we
were next door neighbours. I had visited the
governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Amaechi in Port
Harcourt. I had noticed this slim
gentleman a few times at the reception of Mr.
Amaechi’s office in the past one week. I overheard
his aides call his office 105 – I wonder what that
meant. Although I greeted the man, we could not
discuss much before the governor called me in.
Meeting him again at the breakfast table the next
day we had to introduce ourselves to one another.
One thing led to the other and we started talking.
After the conversation, we now looked like people
who had known
each other for a lifetime. I remember excusing
myself because I was running late, and so, I had to
cross over to see if the governor was still at his
residence.
On my way to him I noticed an unusual number of
people gathered and talking in low tones. Others
were walking hither thither. It was too early for
such a crowd. What could be wrong I wondered, but
continued until I met another politician and tried to
ask him. Great guy, but he busied
himself talking to me in parables. As I was
struggling to interpret his statement, I saw another
friend of the governor waving at me. This time
frantically. It was quite unusual.
Mohammed is an easy-going person and generous
man who is always smiling. What would have put
him in such an unsettled mood, I wondered. Call
BBC, call Sahara
Reporters; Uche what are you people doing? He
was almost shouting at me on top of his voice –
walking and running at the same time. At that point
I left my friend and hurried into the governor’s main
residence to ascertain what happened.
Something was definitely wrong.
The 9th of July 2013 – do you remember? That was
the day they attempted violently, but
unsuccessfully, to impeach the
former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi. The
clips of that horrible day are still very clear in my
mind. A day I will
always remember to forget and forget to remember.
As soon as I entered his compound, I tried to look
for the then
governor among the multitude of people gathered.
There was momentary chaos and pandemonium. I
later spotted him in white trousers and white shirt to
match. He looked ruffled, confused, restless, and
was panting from one part of the compound to the
other. He was obviously rattled by
what happened and was trying to figure out what to
do. I was frightened and I prayed. About ten people
were walking around with him and trying to talk to
him at the same time.
From time to time he would pause, step aside, and
discuss with one person or another. His phone was
ringing
incessantly, and each time he excused himself from
the crowd to make or answer calls. The calls kept
coming even from the phone of his orderly. I
watched him from my corner and imagined he was
talking to important people. It was a tough time for
him and all of us. My wife called me
severally to beg me to return back to England. Many
of my friends followed suite. One of my former
classmates in Ibadan called me several times, and
when she noticed I was avoiding her calls, she sent
me a text that I still cannot forget. It read thus: “I
think you said that your Amaechi is a lion, now that
he has been impeached, you should get ready to be
taking beans to him in Kuje prison”. I read the text
dismissively and continued to watch.
In a twinkle of an eye, Governor Amaechi drove out
through the back gate of Brick House with a few
security men.
Before he left he handed over a document (that I
was later told was the Supplementary Budget) to his
Deputy Governor who was also in premises.
Somehow the Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru appeared
more composed than the Governor on that day, as
if he knew a little more about the whole drama.
At some point, the leader of Rivers State House of
Assembly Hon. (now Dr Chidi Lloyd) came into the
compound. He was dressed in his usual white attire
with
red cap. I noticed that his top was squeezed and
there were blood stains all over him. I suspected he
had been injured by someone. He immediately
narrated how a gesture of
handshake from him to Hon. Evans Bipi was
rewarded with a hot slap. At that point, out of
curiosity, I had to get into the car and asked my
driver to take me to the House of
Assembly. I wanted to see things for myself. When
I arrived the State House of Assembly, the gate had
been blocked by
more than fifty anti-riot policemen. I managed to
gain entry by posing at the back of the car. The
policemen mistook me to be one big man. When I
entered inside, I got the full story. Earlier in the day,
five lawmakers loyal to former Minister of
Education, now Governor Nyesom Wike, had
attempted to impeach former Governor Amaechi
now Minister but failed. The rest as they say is now
history.
I had to tell this story for many reasons. Whenever
people start fighting Amaechi up to the point that
you think that they are succeeding, it does not
really bother me much. I know that God always
shows up and comes to his rescue. It jas happened
so many times before my very eyes. I have
concluded that it is not really about him. Yes. I did
not believe that President Jonathan’s men would
not defeat and
disgrace the former Rivers State Governor as the
Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF).
The paraphernalia of the Presidency was deployed
in full gear. Somehow at the last minute, the tide
turned and Amaechi triumphed. You remember the
19 vs 16 saga. Of course, no one believed
that he would finish his tenure as governor of Rivers
State.
They had announced his impeachment on radio and
network news. The then Police Commissioner, now
retired AIG Joseph Mbu, had been detailed to pick
him up and bring him to incarceration in Abuja like a
common criminal. A helicopter was already waiting
at the Port Harcourt Airforce
base to ferry the man to Abuja. Mbu came like a
conqueror the next day and even threw teargas
canisters at Brick House. I was terrified but
somehow, he could not carry out Amaechi’s arrest
because the impeachment failed and the National
Assembly took over the Rivers State House of
Assembly. With all the Presidential backing and all
the rumours, God fought for that man. His
detractors were practically disgraced. To all those
who are persecuting
Amaechi by trying to tar him with the brush of
corruption, I have one line for you. Look into history
and learn your lesson. It is not about this man or
his strength. It is
probably about the grace of God upon his life.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/how-god-fights-for-chibuike-rotimi.html?m=1

Today is the 59th birthday of Dr.Goodluck Jonathan.
Jonathan who served as deputy governor and governor of Bayelsa State and the Vice President and 14th President of Nigeria was born in Otueke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on 20 November, 1957.
Jonathan holds a Ph.D degree in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt.
Jonathan is widely celebrated as a hero of democracy for willingly and peacefully handing over power to Muhammadu Buhari after his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. This act didn't only save the lives and property of many Nigerians but endeared him to many people globally.
Versatile Reporters heartily congratulates and celebrates with Dr.Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan @ 59.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com

Following a strange call for the postponement of the upcoming Ondo Governorship Election by the spokesperson of the Markafi-faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has reacted to the call. Sheriff who spoke through its National Vice Chairman, Cairo Ojougboh in a statement urged the INEC, the judiciary and members of the public to disregard the call for postponement.
Sheriff declared that as a matter of fact, the party under his leadership was fully ready for the Saturday's poll in Ondo State and was confident of the Party's candidate, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim who has been busy campaigning in all the nooks and crannies of the state of winning the election.
He said: "Our attention has been drawn to the malicious,short-sightedness, offensive and irresponsible statement issued by the illegal National caretaker Committee as represented by Dayo Adeyeye.
"The Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, entire judiciary and indeed the members of the public in general should discontinuance of the statement on the Ondo state poll completely.
"We also want to draw the attention of the Public to the evil intention and plans of the illegal Caretaker Committee not only to kill the PDP, but also to bury it as they have announced to the whole nation that by January next year they would been in a new Party, what else are they saying here again? We will not allow them to kill the PDP.
"we hereby state categorically that PDP is beyond destruction, we are calling on them to leave PDP alone and allow us to face the task of rebuilding the party.
"We are reinstating here again and again that we are ready for the Ondo poll come November 26th, there is no cogent reason for INEC to do otherwise".
Recall that the decision of the Special Court of Appeal Panel hearing the cases on the PDP crises to suspend its judgement indefinitely shattered all the hopes of the Makarfi-led PDP and kicked its preferred candidate, Prof.Eyitayo Jegede from the guber race.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/poll-postponement-sheriff-slams-markafi.html

It was recently reported that political thugs working for the governorship candidate of the Alliance For Democracy, AD, Olusola Oke in the upcoming Ondo Governoship election were intercepted and arrested with guns and other sophisticated weapons while in a convoy to a campaign rally.
Some media outfit even reported that the governorship candidate was also arrested, but the media aide to the embattled candidate rebuffed the allegation and the rumour of Oke's arrest.
More facts have however now emerged relating to the whole event.
Versatile Reporters gathered that over ten political thugs working for the AD candidate were arrested by men of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Owena Barracks in Akure, the Ondo State capital. They were arrested with an Olusola Oke campaign branded bus loaded with ammunitions along Okitipupa Ore axis in Ondo State.
Items found with the thugs at the military checkpoint included guns, cutlasses, uniforms, live cartridges, an AD Toyota bus, press Identification cards among others.
Versatile Reporters also gathered that the suspects left Oke’s house at Ijapo in
Akure on Friday morning and they were heading to Ilaje, where Oke is expected to hold a rally.
According to a military source who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Versatile Reporters, the thugs were apprehended after the military stopped and searched the campaign vehicle they were driving. “Immediately we stopped the vehicle, they called themselves pressmen but we were
curious that how can pressmen be driving a customized AD vehicle.
“It was then we asked them to allow us to search the vehicle and we discovered all these ammunitions loaded in the bus. They were immediately arrested and we transferred them to our headquarters in Akure.
All efforts to secure the release of the arrested thugs by the AD candidate have hit the hard wall of the military.
Recall that the Ondo governorship election is scheduled for November 26 and Olusola Oke is considered as one of the main contenders to replace Gov.Olusegun Mimiko.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/revealed-how-political-thugs-of-ad.html

President Muhammadu Buhari is said to have landed at Akure, the Ondo State Capital.
The president is billed to attend the mega rally of the All Progressives Congress, APC at the democracy park today as part of efforts to mobilise support for the party's candidate, Mr.Rotimi Akeredolu.
Apart from the president, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, over 23 APC Governors, Senators, House of Representatives Members, Ministers and other leaders of the party are also expected at the event.

source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/apc-mega-rally-president-buhari-arrives.html

In what now seems to be a daily occurrence in Ondo State, another aide of the state governor, Hon. Anthony Ayodeji on Friday resigned his appointment.
Hon.Ayodeji who hails from Odigbo Local Government Area resigned his appointment over what he called negligence of his community under the almost eight year tenure of Gov.Olusegun Mimiko.
He resigned his appointment as Special Assistant to Gov.Mimiko on Youth and Mobilisation and has also defected with his supporters to the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state with a vow to work tirelessly towards the victory of the candidate, Mr.Rotimi Akeredolu.
This is coming few hours after the court of appeal reserved its judgement indefinitely on the matters relating to the crises rocking the PDP and its governorship candidate in Ondo State.
Versatile Reporters recalls that the Ondo Governorship election holds just seven days away.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/ondo-2016-another-of-govmimiko-resigns.html

As the political gimmicks in Ondo State continues ahead of the November 26 governorship election, thousands of PDP members officially decamped to the ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, APC, Thursday in Akoko South East Local Government, Isua Akoko.

The queue of defectors who picked various holes in the Mimiko administration as well as his imposition of Mr.Eyitayo Jegede from his senatorial district, all pledged their allegiance with Mr Akeredolu, the candidate of APC who was on a campaign rally in the area.

Those that defected included: Mr Wale Ozogoro ( former PDP state publicity secretary, former Local government chairman) Hon. Ade Olorunmo a.k.a chem chem ( former Akoko South East chairman) Mr Akande Kayode ( former PDP ward 10 chairman) Hon Asumo ( former ward representative) Hon Barr Ojo Victor ( former akoko South East chairman).

The defectors were received by the APC state secretary along with their thousands of supporters in a carnival like manner.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/pdp-members-defect-enmass-to-apc-in_18.html

There was a probable break down of law and order in Rivers State yesterday when APC and PDP protesters almost clashed if not for the timely intervention of the state police command.
The APC had embarked on a peaceful protest against the refusal of the Speaker of the state house of assembly to swear in the only two members elected on the platform of the party. Surprisingly, immediately the PDP heard of the protest, they also mobilised their own members and supporters to the same venue (the state house of assembly) in what they termed a solidarity protest for the speaker. The protesting members of the APC quickly retreated as members of the PDP began attacking them until the police anti-riot team arrived.
To this end, the state police command has reacted officially to what happened yesterday.


Read the statement below:

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Odesanya, has described the RIvers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as matured and law abiding, over its voluntary decision to abide by the advise of the Rivers State Police Command to abort a protest for which approval was dully given because of a security threat arising from an 'unapproved' PDP solidarity march on the same day. Read interview below:
"I received a letter from the APC seeking for approval to deliver a protest letter to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly over their refusal to swear in 2 elected APC members into the Rivers State House of Assembly.
I also got an information that the PDP was also planning a solidarity march for the Speaker of the House of Assembly on the same day, at the same time, that the APC scheduled their protest. So I put a call through to the PDP Chairman, Brother Felix Obuah, who confirmed it and said that they just want to go and pay the Speaker a visit.
I also put a call to His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, and he said yes, that they want to go and pay him a solidarity visit. I explained to him that it would not be proper, it would not be appropriate, since we've already given the APC approval to go on a rally just to deliver a protest letter to the Speaker on that same day, that they could always do it on another day. He said NO, that they don't need my permission to go and pay a solidarity visit to the Speaker!
So since then, I started looking for a way to get out of the logjam. I put up an official letter to two of them, advising them to desist from such acts. Fortunately for me, the APC decided to be more matured and agreed that they would not come down to the Speaker's place, rather they would go round the State in expressing their grievances over the non-swearing in of their elected members into the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Of course we mobilised massively, over 40 vehicles, over 3000 men, because we know what this thing is all about..."

~ Mr. Francis Odesanya, Rivers State Commissioner of Police

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/aborted-protest-apc-was-more-matured.html

In one moment of senseless and weird pursuit of vendetta clearly influenced by a brain overburdened and overrun by
Whiskey, Governor Wike two days ago ordered the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Rivers State to prosecute the APC Deputy Governorhip Candidate in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Rivers State, Hon. Asita
Honourable for the alleged murder of an NYSC member who was deployed as an adhoc staff of INEC in Ahoada West L.G.A during the rerun election in Rivers State.
Also to be prosecuted for the alleged murder of a woman in Kpite, Tai L.G.A. during the rerun election is Hon. Chief Dr.
Barry Mpigi, House of Representatives candidate of the APC for the Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai Federal Constituency. Another APC member the Governor ordered prosecuted for attempted murder is Mr ThankGod Ode. Recommendations
for the prosecutions were made by the Justice Monima Danagogo Commission of Inquiry into the political violence that marred the March rerun elections and accepted by the Rivers State Executive Council, said Dr. Austin Tam-George,
Rivers Commissioner for Information. According to Dr.Tam-George, the Army was also barred from participating in future elections in Rivers State by the Commission of Inquiry, and enforcement of fundamental rights proceedings
recommended by the Commission against the Army.
I have always believed that Governor Nyesom Wike missed a glorious opportunity to shake the whole world with his precocious talent and aptitude as a drama king when he veered into politics, a calling for which he is ill-prepared.
Politics should be about service to the people, not macabre dance, not drama, not endless comedy. Wike went astray from his true calling when he leaped into politics, perhaps because of the mega bucks he felt he could grab, and which he is truly grabbing with relish.
Governor Wike knows that Asita did not commit murder.
Governor Wike knows that Hon Mpigi did not commit murder. Governor knows that all the violence that took place during the rerun election was orchestrated by his own boys, his own party and his own army. Why then is he putting up this kind of meaningless drama? It's my position that the Governor's laughable order for the prosecution of APC leaders in Rivers State and the Nigerian Army is a red herring designed to achieve three, nay, four purposes:
1. to obscure facts and bamboozle Nigerians from focusing on the mindless murders Governor Wike himself committed
through his thugs and surrogates in his bloody march to power in 2015. The Supreme Court correctly captured the
situation in Rivers State before, during and after the 2015 elections as "theatre of war" in an earlier appeal it decided in the election petition. Governor Wike and his PDP war machines waged that war! The monstrous violence continued in the rerun election. Wike and the PDP left nobody in doubt about his villainous roles in the violence that characterized the election. In fact, Wike was, and is, the fons et origo of the political violence that continues to engulf Rivers State.
2. to blackmail the Nigerian Army into relinquishing its constitutional role in Rivers State in order to cleverly pave
way for the Governor's army to have unhindered, unfettered and unrestrained operation especially during the coming
rerun elections. That is in keeping with all the frivolous petitions against the Nigeria Army that the Governor has caused his lackeys like Livingstone Wechie to write to the National Assembly, which frivolous petitions they have failed to defend on several public hearing days in the House
of Representatives. Wike, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces of the Sovereign State of Rivers is on a war path with the Nigeria Army with a fully loaded and armed army controlled and commanded him.
3. to bury and obscure the murderous roles played by the Governor's boys, his personal army and men in the last rerun elections in the facade of the no-brainer accusations
of key APC Chieftains for murder and violence. That is in keeping with the Governor's plan to exterminate the APC
using the Rivers State Judiciary, his own supermarket, as a tool in his blistering persecution.
4. to strike fear into APC leaders and APC members in Rivers State so that they will go to sleep and allow Wike's election Armada which he is already prepping up for a free
reign of terror and malfeasance during the rerun elections slated for December 10th, 2016. This formula is especially targeted in the Rivers South-East and Ogoni areas where Wike's PDP has no foothold and cannot win a pin in electoral conquest.
Wike is the archetypal drama king, and this latest gimmick is in keeping with his characteristic pre-election drama series. He had earlier tried to contrive the election materials printing escapade in Port Harcourt in which the Rivers State
PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah starred as the Rivers State Police Commissioner and the Rivers State Government House as the Police Headquarters . In that comedy
supported and aired by AIT, CP Felix Obuah planned a contrived sting operation with his armed thugs; arrested some people; took them to Rivers State Government House;
went back to to their office to plant and harvest fake election materials; came back to extract what they called confessional statement after which CP Felix Obuah paraded the suspects live on AIT and reeled out their crimes to bemused Nigerians. In that series, Governor Wike acted as the Inspector-General of Police in the nation of Rivers State and directed his police Commissioner to prosecute the suspects. When that became too simple, he dictated to the Nigeria Police hierarchy how they must go about the investigation of a sting carried out by his own personal police force and which zone of the Nigeria police should not touch the case. Rivers State is indeed the theater of the absurd!
It was when that gimmick failed to sell that Wike is now trying this new series which of course is all about noise. The latest drama has everything to do with the December
election. I have told you why in the paragraphs above.
The Wike political vendetta commission headed by Monima Danagogo submitted its hatchet report since 14th of June, 2016, but Wike had to patiently wait for the opportune time to act the drama we are now witnessing. The ripe time came when INEC announced that it would conduct the
remaining rerun elections on December 10th. Wike the drama king cannot allow that opportunity slip away without
putting up another show. But how far can he go?
If there is any person who should stand trial for murder and electoral violence in Rivers State, Governor Wike should be
number one. His CP and chief executioner, Bro Felix Obuah should be number two, and the chieftains of his party should
line in their order of importance to fill the list. They are the reasons why Rivers State has become a laughing stock.
They are the reasons why INEC has been unable to conclude rerun elections in Rivers State. They are violence personified.
Wike has recommended gentlemen of the APC for the dock today, but I predict that his own day shall surely come, and a better template of his repressive tactics against his
political opponents will be deployed and rallied against him.
Then, the law will replay to Wike how he declared fatwa on INEC officials by ordering people coming to conduct
elections in Rivers to write their will. The law will replay how Wike formed Arrest Resistant Committee in all the Wards of
Rivers State and armed them with the wherewithal to consummate their illicit functions. The law will replay how
Wike consistently incited frenzied supporters against federal institutions and political opponents. The law will recall how
Wike incited his Ogoni supporters to commit arson on the property of Magnus Abe. The law will recall how he declared
few months ago that INEC officials coming to Rivers state will drown in the Bonny River. The law will recall how over
200 APC members were slaughtered in Rivers State. The law will recall how between January 2016 and today, more than 15 APC members in Ogoni were murdered by his own army.
The law will recall how he reeled out the names of prospective INEC Adhoc staff on radio and declared Armageddon against them. The law will not fail to recall.
The law will also asked who distributed many trailer loads of Ak.47 riffle to all the Wards of Rivers State ahead of the 2015 war in Rivers State improperly called elections. The law will question the lives of innocent persons those guns have been used to cut down.
As for today, let's sit back and watch the drama king as he attempts to obscure facts and rewrite history under the intoxicating influence of power mixed with enough Louis XIII.

Kennedy Friday writes from Abuja.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com

The renewed battle between two respected northern
leaders has attracted the attention of northern
youths under the umbralla group, Area Youth
Development Foundation.
The group rose in defence of former Vice President,
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar against the reciprocal verbal
attack on him by the Kaduna State Governor,
Mallam Nasir Elrufai.
The Press Release is provided below:
We have read the recent venomous utterances by
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir elrufai against the
person of the former Vice President of Nigeria,
Atiku Abubakar.
We have also noticed that this is not the first time
elrufai is insulting the Nation by making unguarded
utterances against its leaders
He is on record as having made series of
uncomplimentary remarks on such Nigerian leaders
as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim
Babangida, and the Late Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
A master of double standard, elrufai did not spare
even the current president, Muhammadu Buhari
before he now shamelessly turns to cling to his
wings.
At a point, Chief Obasanjo was even compelled to
call him a pathological liar.
We have also noted that in all cases, elrufai's
venom is directly aimed at those who nurtured him
including the masses of people who defied all odds
to get him to the present office in 2015.
This hatred for the people was exhibited in that
infamous metaphor in which elrufai told the people
of Kaduna State to go and die by falling off the
Kufena hills if they feel hurt by his regime of
unpopular and anti-people policies.
His chain of irresponsible disrespect for leaders
includes the humiliation of the late respected Jurist
and elderstatesman, Malam Bashir Sambo which
even caused his death.
We also believe that the family of the Late Umaru
Musa Yar’adua will never forget elrufai's reckless
lies against the late president in his hugely
discredited "Accidental Civil Servant".
Heartlessly, elrufai knowingly allowed those lies
against Yar'Adua to be published and publicity
launched even after the man had died.
This deliberate carelessness is not only morally
warped but in direct conflict of the teachings of the
Islam elrufai hypocritically professes which warns
against speaking ill of the dead.
Elrufai, beyond been the pathological liar as labeled
by Obasanjo, has just proved to be an ungrateful
opportunist with his latest attack on Atiku.
By labeling others as corrupt, he has also proved to
be unitelligent as not to heed the warning that those
in glass houses should not throw stones about.
Elrufai is incompetent to speak on corruption given
his messy antecedents as Minister of the FCT and
at the BPE.
He has even so soon forgotten the questions that
linger over the mystery of the 90 billion dollars he
declared upon assuming office.
We therefore warn elrufai that the nation, especially
the north is fed up with his pathological rudeness
and indecorum.
We categorically emphasize that his ambition to
aspire to any office in the future is as good as dead
even if Buhari were to deceived a second time into
anointing him.
Finally, we warn him that enough is enough of his
hypocrisy and opportunism.
SIGNED
Aminu Adam
CHAIRMAN

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/you-are-master-of-double.html?m=1

Thursday morning protesting members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers meet a huge resistance as the State Governor, Nyesom Wike on hearing of the protest quickly mobilised his party members and supporters to dispel them. This action forced the protesting APC members into a retreat with many of them running for their lives.

Versatile Reporters gathered that the group loyal to the APC in the state was out to protest against the decision of the state asembly not to swear in only two APC elected members of the House of Assembly months after their election.

As at the time of filing this report the Governor has taken over the state assembly.
The two embattled APC legislators are Hon. Victoria Wobo Nyeche and Hon. Andrew Miller.

Some of the protesters who spoke to Versatile Reporters from their hiding places frown at the refusal of the Speaker of the State Assembly to swear in the APC members. They accused the state governor of deliberately sponsoring and supervising over the total persecution of members of the opposition in the state.

Versatile Reporters recalls that while Hon.Victoria won her case from the tribunal and court of appeal, Hon.Miller who hails from the same state constituency with the 2015 governorship candidate of the APC won the March 19,legislative rerun election. However, the duo have not been sworn in as members of the state assembly.
Meanwhile a reliable source who also spoke to Versatile Reporters disclosed that the Governor was meeting with the lawmakers over the request to secure another N10billion loan while the protesters arrived. That this was the major thing that angered the governor to personally mobilise against them.

The concluding part of the legislative rerun elections in Rivers State have been fixed for December 10.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/govwike-and-pdp-members-dispel.html

Rivers State Executive Council has directed the Attorney General of the State to prosecute the 2015 All Progressives Congress ( APC) Deputy Governorship Candidate , Honourable Asita Okorie for the murder of an NYSC member at Akinima in Ahoada West Local Government Area during the March 19, 2016 rerun legislative elections .
Addressing journalists after the Rivers State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Wednesday at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House , Port Harcourt , Commissioner of Information , Dr Austin Tam-George informed that the council gave the directive in line with the recommendation of the Justice Monima Danagogo Commission of Inquiry into the violence and killings that characterised the March 19, 2016 rerun elections in the State .
The Rivers State Executive Council also accepted the recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry which indicted the Nigerian Army as being associated with various acts of violence ranging from assault through malicious destruction of property to murder .
The Rivers State Executive Council which met on Wednesday also directed the State Attorney General to prosecute one Mr ThankGod Ode for an attempted murder in Ogonokom, Abua Odual Local Government Area .
The Council also directed the Attorney General of the state to prosecute Mr Barry Mpigi for the murder of a pregnant woman whose name was Mrs Baby Nzuuga in Kpite Tai.
He added that the Justice Monima Danagogo Commission of Inquiry indicted several politicians and state institutions over their roles in the destruction of lives and property during the March 19 rerun elections .
The Rivers State Executive Council , therefore , directed the State Attorney General to file cases bordering on the
enforcement of fundamental human rights for victims of the acts of violence by the Nigerian Army . These cases are to be filed pro-bono.
The State Executive Council of the State accepted the recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry that the Nigerian Army’s participation in the rerun elections was illegal. It further accepted the recommendation that in line with several court judgments , the Nigerian military should not participate in elections .
It will be recalled that Governor Wike set up the Commission of Inquiry on the 16th of April , 2016. The commission submitted its report to the Rivers State Government on 14th June , 2016.
Meanwhile, a cross section of Port Harcourt residents and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State have referred to the prosecution order as part of Wike's persecution plan on members of the opposition in the state.
They wondered how Gov.Wike suddenly remembered a report he had abandoned months ago only few weeks to the rerun elections in the state. They insisted that just like the case of Ajukaye Flag Amachree (a chieftain of the APC also been prosecuted for murder), Gov.Wike is bent on using the courts and other apparatus of the state under his manipulation to fight the opposition into extinction.
It may interest you to know that no known member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state was indicted or recommended for prosecuted in the report.

Source: http://www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/wike-orders-prosecution-of-2015-rivers.html?m=1

Barely a day after announcing that he is no longer a member of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, a party he solely founded and funded, Versatile Reporters can authoritative report that former Governor of Abia State Chief Uzor Kalu has formally decamped to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Information reaching Versatile Reporters also confirms that He is currently being received, with his entourage, by the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun with the NWC Members at the party secretariat.
Recall that after the defeat of former President Jonathan who Kalu supported in last year's presidential election, he has been observed to be calling for support for President Buhari and the APC-led government.
It is unclear whether this defection is part of moves to get cover from several corruption cases involving the former governor.

Source: http://www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/former-abia-governor-uzor-orji-kalu.html?m=1

Rev. Dr. Biodun Ogunbekun of the Methodist
Church that was kidnapped on his farm at Kufi
area, along Olounda-Aba road, Ibadan, on Thursday
has been released after five days in the
kidnappers’ den.
This was confirmed by the diocesan Bishop of the
Methodist Cathedral, Ibadan, Rt. Rev. Amos
Ajiboye. According to the Bishop, Rev.Biodun was
released on Tuesday but he did not give details of
how he was released or how the kidnappers
contacted the church and the priest’s family.
“Our priest was released to us on Tuesday.
We are grateful to God and all those that made it
possible. We shall be making further statement in
due time. He is resting after what he had gone
through in the hands of his abductors.”
It was unclear if ransom was paid to secure the
release of the priest. But a source who
pleaded anonymity said the kidnappers demanded
for N10m from the family and the church before he
could be released.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/kidnappers-release-methodist-priest-in.html?m=1

more photos at: www.versatilereporters.com

After weeks of persuading militants and cultist to accept the amnesty offer of the state government, the chairman of the amnesty committee, Sir Ken Chinda us ready to submit all recovered arms and ammunitions to Gov.Wike as he also submits his report. 

Check Photos Below
Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/photonews-rivers-state-amnesty.html

Following the swearing in of the winner of the Edo State Governorship Election Saturday, the defeated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, waved off the occasion, saying Obaseki will only enjoy the stolen mandate for a short period as a caretaker governor. Ize-Iyamu who said this in Benin at the opening of the office of the Edo Mandate Recovery Centre, assured his supporters that he would reclaim his mandate as the duly elected Governor of Edo State.

Ize-Iyamu said: “I will do everything to ensure the actualization of the mandate they gave to me. I cannot be compromised, I cannot be bought and I have faith in the judiciary, I have faith in God”, he said.

“Edo people should also have faith, and on no condition should they resort to violence. It is going to be a long road and in the course of this journey, a man who did not win will be temporarily sworn in; but we must not leave the State. The will of God will be done at the end of the day”.

Daniel Ogbegie of the Edo Mandate Recovery Group explained the reason behind the platform saying: “We honestly believe that the movement to reclaim this mandate has gone beyond the PDP and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. It is a movement of all Edo people. A movement to protect the sanctity of our tomorrow, our collective destinies.

“So we as a group will serve as a veritable platform for the critical stakeholders in this mandate to synergize in ensuring resounding success in the aforementioned goals.

“As part of recovering this mandate, it is pertinent to also monitor the Government that is being inaugurated today at the Ogbemudia stadium; not to give them legitimacy and hold them to account to the people throughout the short period they will superintend over the affairs of the State.

“This we shall do on behalf of the people and the government that shall be installed in accordance with their will at the end of the constitutional process of mandate recovery that has already been embarked upon by the PDP at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

“I assure Edo people that we have a good case at the tribunal and with your prayers and every support, we shall pursue, overcome and recover all”.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu after the declaration of the Edo election results by INEC has claimed that by his parallel results that he deserved the victory.

source: http://www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/obaseki-is-been-sworn-in-as-caretaker.html

Alimtoheeb:
The return of ESE oruru.......baaad girl

Trust her na
Na Warri girl oh
But how she first fall for Aboki hand nai surprise me

Correction:
Tribunal and Court of Appeal never cancelled the election of Dickson as stated by the source:
Check Here: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/supreme-court-affirms-electoral-victory.html?m=1
The Moderator should take some time to verify the contents of posts before pushing it to the front page,at least to uphold the credibility of Nairaland.
It shouldn't be all about honouring a rat-race of first to post, while other similar threads/posts are simply blocked without a recourse to their credibility and rich content.

Godwin Emefiele, who served previously as the Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank PLC was appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on June 3, 2014 by Nigeria’s former President, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan submitted the name of Emefiele few hours after he suspended Sanusi Lamido who was then the CBN Governor. Mr. Sanusi’s sudden suspension was generally believed to be due to his stand against the corrupt and unconstitutional practices of the Jonathan administration, chiefly of such was the allegation of the missing $20billion from the national treasury. However, the then spokesperson of the government, Dr.Reuben Abati insisted that Sanusi’s suspension was not a vendetta for exposing the financial recklessness of Jonathan administration. Abati had said that Sanusi was suspended ‘based on the need for him (Sanusi) to step aside while the weighty charges of financial recklessness, gross misconduct and persistent disregard for laid down rules and regulations in the management of the Central Bank made against him by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and others are properly investigated’. But up till date, where is the report of that almighty investigation?
Before ascending the throne at the Central Bank, Emefiele had testimonies as to how He transformed Zenith Bank into a global brand. According to Zenith Bank, “ Under Emefiele’s leadership, Zenith Bank has strengthened its position as a leading financial institution in Africa, winning recognition and getting endorsements at home and abroad for giant strides in key performance areas like corporate governance, service delivery and deployment of cutting edge ICT as well as impact in the bank’s numerous shares of operations. “
“In 2012 , Emefiele’s visonary leadership saw Zenith Bank receiving acclaim from reputable institutions such as world Finance, CFI and FTSE Global Markets that have named Zenith Bank the Best in corporate governance, Best Commercial Bank in Africa and Emerging Global Super brand respectively”.
Accordingly, many Nigerians had huge expectations from Mr.Emefiele as regards how the nigerian economy would fare under him. From gradually to an unbearable height, Emefiele’s goodwill seems to have completed eroded. Under Mr.Emefiele, Nigeria has had severe challenge more than she ever had in over 25 years ago. Some of those economic challenges include rising unemployment, loss of jobs, poor monetary policies, inflation, constant fall of the Nigerian currency, economic stagnation and the relocation of companies from the country among others.
Despite what appears to be a trial and error approach by the CBN Governor so far, the Nigerian economy has continued to remain in shambles as the recession lingers with little or no hope. To this end, many eminent Nigerians including the national assembly have called for the resignation or sack of Mr.Emefiele by President Muhammadu Buhari. But the president seems to have rendered a consistent deaf ear to that crucial call even as the economic hardship bites further.
An economic expert, Mallam Umar Muhammed Who spoke to Versatile Reporters expressed bitterness at the continuous stay of Mr.Emefiele amidst the persistent economic mess Nigeria is currently in. “I am deeply shocked that Emefiele still heads the Apex Bank even when everything seems not to be working under him. I expected him to have honourably resigned or for President Buhari to have sacked him after been sworn in, after all Jonathan sacked Sanusi who performed excellently than Emefiele” Muhammed said.
A financial expert based in Lagos who also spoke With Versatile Reporters under the condition of anonymity said “There is no moral and economic justification for Emefiele to still serve as the CBN Governor currently. Are you not aware of all the massive corruption that occurred under Jonathan’s administration? Especially between 2014 and early part of 2015 that fell within the electioneering period which coincided With Emefiele’s appointment? Why will a man who shamelessly approved the looting of our national treasury that threw us into this recession still have his position intact? He inquired.
Investigations by Versatile Reporters have confirmed the real reason(s) why President Buhari may never suspend or sack the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele. According to our sources within the presidency and the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the continuous stay of Mr.Emefiele against all odds is a deliberate plan to yield huge political benefits in the future.
Our source within the presidency hinted that some influential persons within the current administration have succeeded in pleading with President Buhari to allow Mr.Emefiele finish his tenure at the CBN no matter the number of those calling for his sack or at least stay till 2018. The source further explained that the move is aimed at reducing the tensions and grievances arising from recent appointments by the president as a replacement for Emefiele may eventually be a northerner. “We know the economy is not faring well under the current CBN Governor and we are aware of the calls for the suspension or sack of Mr.Emefiele, but the truth is that there are some strong individuals who are seriously protecting the interest of Emefiele for ethnic, political and financial reasons” the source said.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Delta State who would not want his name mentioned explained that the continuous stay of the CBN Governor is part of a grand plan by the party in the South-South region to increase its fortune. He revealed that Mr.Godwin Emefiele Who hails from Delta State has promised to defect to the party at the end of his tenure as the head of Nigeria’s apex bank or probably by 2018. According to him, Emefelie joining the APC in Delta State is part of a strategic plan to win the state in 2019 as well as increase the financial supports needed to win other states in the South-South region where the APC has only one state. “You know politics is about numbers and finance. Here in Delta State, we have been seriously strategizing on how to wrestle the state from the ruling PDP government of Dr.Ifeanyi Okowa. Part of that plan is the merging of some key position parties in the state and their leaders with the APC. To succeed in doing this, we also need funds to give the PDP a fight to in in 2019. We are sure if our son, Godwin Emefiele joins us in APC in the state, it will certainly boost our victory drive, especially through the financial assistance we are expecting from him. So this is why the stakeholders have pleaded With President Buhari not to suspend or sack him for now. You recall that APC lost in Delta State in 2015? So a victory for the party in the state in 2019 will also mean a victory for President Buhari”. The source explained.
It may interest you to know that Mr.Godwin Emefiele’s tenure at the Central Bank is expected to end in 2019. Whether Mr.Emefiele will complete his tenure at the CBN or not or defect to the APC or not, only time will tell.

Source: http://www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/exclusive-why-buhari-may-not-sack-cbn.html

As the battle for who flies the flag of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP in the upcoming
governorship election in Ondo State continues, the
State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has
threatened that the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) should forget about conducting
the governorship election in the state if the issue of
the candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, was
not resolved.
The governor stated this on Sunday at the PDP
stakeholders’ meeting held in Akure, the state
capital. At the event, he said the PDP as a party in
Nigeria and Ondo State in particular, is a major
stakeholder in election matter and no one can
prevent the party from participating in the
forthcoming governorship election in the state.
“I don’t know how they will do it, it is impossible for
them to deny us our right. Justice will stand and
Jegede will contest this election. Election can’t take
place in Ondo State without the PDP.”
The governor also accused INEC of falling for APC's
plot of winning the state by all means by
substituting the name of Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) for
Jimoh Ibrahim.
“Justice will stand and Jegede will contest the
election.
Election can’t take place without the PDP.
“We know those that are behind this. It is beyond
the President. Their thinking is that without Jegede,
they will win but their plan will fail, “ he said.
He, however, assured that the issue of the PDP
standard bearer in the governorship election would
soon be resolved by the appellate court and
expressed the assurance that the candidate of the
Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of the party, would
contest the election.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/without-pdp-election-wont-hold-in-ondo.html?m=1

No Igbo man can boast of loving and sacrificing for
Igbo people than Ikemba Dikedioramma
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. He defended
his people even to the extent of standing the risk of
losing his life. His love for his people particularly
pushed him to going into a civil war with a more
powerful Nigerian side with much foreign supports
and resources. That war unfortunately ended the
lives of millions of people especially those Ojukwu
was fighting for. When all odds were obviously
against him, He gave up and ran out of the country
to safe his own life and that marked the end of the
war.
After 13 years in exile, the Federal Government of
Nigeria under President Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari
granted an
official pardon to Odumegwu-Ojukwu and he was
welcomed in a heroic way by his people.
With the bitter and unfortunate adventure for Biafra,
Ojukwu gave up on his secessionist plan and
accepted his citizenship of Nigeria wholeheartedly
even to the extent of been an active politician
between 1983 to 2011 against the expectations of
many people. He contested for senate under
National Party of Nigeria in 1983 but was rigged
out. Ojukwu was later arrested by the military
juncta in 1984 but was later released by General
Buhari since he was not charged for any crimes.
Having completely given up on Biafra, Ojukwu
contested as presidential candidate of his party, All
Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for three times
in Nigeria, of course you know the results.
Before his death in 2011, Ojukwu as a Nigerian had
cordial relationships with Nigerians across tribes,
religions and regions.
Sooner after his death, some young Igbos gathered
and started nursing the idea of resurrecting the
Biafran struggle. While no previous governments in
Nigeria seem to have tolerated their agitations, the
secessionist moves seem to have gone to the
highest heights ever with recent sustained protests
within and outside the country, establishment of
Radio Biafra and other efforts at lobbying the
international community especially through
petitions.
The question is this; If Alive, Would Ojukwu Have
Supported Recent Biafra Agitators?

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/if-alive-would-ojukwu-have-supported.html?m=1

In our increasing challenging world, many people
are developing health problems either due to poor
diet or lifestyle.
Recently more people are even battling with how to
lose weight as well as to minimise the fat content of
their bodies.
The following 25 tips on how to achieve your
desired fitness may be helpful.
1. As you wake up early in the morning, always
drink 1 cup of warm water with lemon. Also ensure
you drink lots of water throughout the day and with
all meals.
2. Drink lots of green Tea (in morning: has natural
caffeine) and eliminate all juice (except natural
pomegranate juice), diet and regular soft drinks.
Drink only 1 cup of coffee a day)
3. Never ever eat sugar, this also means nothing
white (no white Pasta, bread or potatoes (nothing
processed, also
known as “eating clean”)
4. Eat whole foods (includes whole wheat pasta,
whole wheat bread.
5. Eat all the vegetables you want (limit carrot
sticks)
6. Eat 5 small meals a day (This includes snacks)
7. Do not eat anything after 7PM
8. Eat mostly lean protein & limit bad carbohydrates
(absolutely no chips, popcorn, cookies, cake etc. no
junk
food)
9. Eat only 1 fruit a day, and before 12 noon. (Eat
fruit from berry family: Blueberries, strawberries,
cranberries)
10. Do ½ hour to 45 minutes of cardio, preferably
walking on an incline every day and 2 one hour
Arthro-Pilates™ classes
a week. (N/B: Consult a doctor before beginning
any exercise program)
11. Do light weight training 3-5lbs for upper body
3times a week
12. Drink 1 protein drink a day (skim milk with
whey protein isolate powder with greens + powder
in morning)
13. Eat the good fat (olive oil, fish oil, flax seed oil
or seed)
14. With doctors permission only, take CLA
(Conjugated Linoleic Acid) as per body weight to
reduce abdominal fat.
Note: This is not for everyone!
15. Get atleast 8 hours sleep
16. Minimize stress to minimize stress hormones
(and reduce abdominal fat)
17. Snack on a small amount of almonds (5 at a
time) throughout the day (4 times a day maximum)
18. Never weigh yourself (judge progress by
clothing size, inch loss, only)
19. Write a food diary every day to stay on track
20. Eat low fat dairy products such as plain yogurt,
cottage cheese, skim milk. (No solid cheeses)
21. Read labels. Look for no or low sugar grams,
no trans fat and only whole wheat.
22. Take a good quality multi vitamin/mineral a day
23. Eat tofu, Beans, and Legumes
24. Never go on a restrictive diet or on a program
diet (They only serve to mess with your metabolism
and eventually
make you gain more weight, in the long run.) To
maintain a good weight and toned body requires a
lifestyle change, not
a fad diet or program.
25. Acceptance is key. So feel good about who you
are, as you are.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/25-weight-losing-and-abdominal-fat.html?m=1

Famous Nigerian Comedian,Teju Oyelakin a.k.a
Teju Babyface has extolled the outstanding
qualities of his wife. He stated this in an interview
with Vanguard Newspaper. Teju said though his
wife told him off the first time he approached her
for a relationship, accepting him later was a sure
lifeline for him as his life would have been
miserable without getting married to her.
"In fact, when I was less than charitable, I would
think she was arrogant. Why? This is because she
literally told me
to buzz off the first few times I approached her. I
was like ‘ehn? me?’. Plus she always had a
perpetual scowl. I mean, it made her more attractive but it was a scowl nonetheless. It all disappeared the first time I
saw her smile."
" In fact, I wish I had gotten married to
her earlier. Perhaps two years earlier. I often tell
her that if I had married someone else (whilst the
opportunity was there to marry her) and I saw her walk into a room, I would have had the deepest type of regret." He
said Teju also advised other men to love their wives
unconditionally insisting that though no one is
perfect, love conquers all and breathes peace in any
marriage.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/my-life-would-have-been-regrettable-if.html?m=1

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives
Congress, APC has reacted to a media propaganda
earlier today in which the party was accused of
printing electoral materials to rig the upcoming
rerun elections in the state.
The Press Statement is provided below:
Wike and PDP deploy thugs in fake sting operations
in R/S
A few days after the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) announced that the Rivers re-
run elections have been fixed for December 10, the
governor of
Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and the PDP have used
thugs to stage what they call “bursting of a fake
result sheets printing syndicate in Port Harcourt”
said to be operated by a purported APC chieftain.
The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives
Congress, APC, wishes to state that no APC person,
chieftain or ordinary member, was involved in any
of the purported actions as alleged by Gov. Wike
and the PDP assuming without
conceding that any such development took place.
We make bold to state that, at the time of writing
this press release, the Rivers State Police
Command has not confirmed any such arrest made
by its officers and men as alleged. What the
governor and PDP are doing this time around is to
use their thugs to stage a drama and arrest some
innocent persons and detain them in the Port
Harcourt Government House without the knowledge
of the Nigeria police.
Sadly, the information we hear is that the present
melodrama is being carried out by Gov. Wike and
the PDP using one Mr. Igbani of the SOS who is a
well-known PDP sympathiser who former Police
Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu used to perpetrate
his evil machinations in Rivers State in the past.
Again, information at our disposal indicate that PDP
and Gov. Wike’s thugs are going to individual APC
members homes to plant incriminating materials
then turn around to
harass and illegally arrest and detain them with the
help of the likes of Mr. Igbani. The activities of this
police officer and his associates will be properly
unveiled to the public in due course.
Indeed, it is worrisome when we see the replay of a
well-known script of political mischief by the
governor and the PDP in Rivers State any time
elections have been
scheduled. Recall that as the last election was
approaching, Gov. Nyesom Wike and the PDP in
Rivers State contrived a
story with which they used to arrest and incarcerate
an APC chieftain, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree. We
believe that the same
scenario is playing out again and this time another
prominent APC chieftain, Hon. Emma Chinda is
being targeted for arrest on trumped up charges
purporting a
false confessional statement by an alleged suspect.
The APC would like to unequivocally state that the
party has a zero-tolerance for electoral
malpractices and does not
directly or indirectly engage in any form of electoral
malfeasance. We advise Rivers people and indeed
Nigerians not to fall for Gov. Wike’s antics
deliberately contrived to
tarnish the image of the APC and its members in
Rivers State.
Warisenibo Chris Finebone
State Publicity Secretary
Sat, 5th Nov, 2016.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/rivers-rerun-apc-reacts-to-allegation.html?m=1

More senior citizens in North Korea are being pressured to kill themselves because of intergenerational conflicts and
the skyrocketing cost of medicine.
Elderly North Koreans who can no longer depend on
the country’s welfare system must also cope with
their children who are sometimes apathetic to their needs, Radio Free Asia reported Thursday.
A source in North Hamgyong Province told RFA on Tuesday it is a common sight at parks or train stations to see senior citizens gathered together, even as temperatures
continue to drop in some of the coldest parts of the
country.
“[Korean War] veterans are among their numbers; it
is heartbreaking to see them there,” the source
said.
The elderly, who are no longer employable, leave
their homes during the day to avoid friction with
their children.
They shiver in the cold outdoors until the sun sets,
the source said.
The financial burden they impose on their adult
children who also struggle to make ends meet has
led to family crises, where it is the children who are asking their aging parents to commit suicide, said another source in North Hamgyong Province.
The notion of killing themselves is not unfamiliar to
elderly North Koreans, particularly war veterans
who once devoted their lives to the Workers’ Party
and sacrificing for North Korea founder Kim Il Sung.
Their devotion has not paid off, as neither the state
nor their children are tending to their needs,
according to the report.
Adult children complain chiefly about the cost of
medicine and their parents’ inability to participate in
a market economy.
Out of frustration, they hang a scroll in their
parents’ bedrooms that reads, “Spirit of Self-
Destruction” or suicide.
Young people placing pressure on the elderly to kill
themselves is becoming a trend, the source said.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/elderly-people-in-north-korea-pushed.html?m=1

Embattled member of Nigeria's House of
Representatives, Hon.Jibrin Abdulmumin, seems to
have found a new job as a marriage counsellor/
women advocate weeks after been suspended by
the House Ethics committee over his allegation of
budget padding against the leadership of the green
chamber.
In a strange dimension, He advised men against
beating their wives no matter the level of
provocation. Jibrin who narrated how the wife of a
battering family colleague ran to him for help this
morning, referred to men who beat their wives as
shameless cowards, animals and devils. " I find it
difficult to relate why a man would violently beat his
wife or even a woman. Haba, men let's fear God!
You have no right to beat her". He tweeted.
He however urged women to be courageous and
fight back so as to stop the mess.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/men-have-no-right-to-beat-their-wives.html?m=1

The Lagos State government has asked the
Supreme Court to set aside the July 12, 2013
judgment of the Court of Appeal which discharged
and acquitted Major
Hamza Al-Mustapha of the the murder of Alhaja
Kudirat Abiola, The Guardian reports.
Kudirat was a wife of the presumed winner of the
June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief
Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.
In place of the Appeal Court judgment, the Lagos
State government urged the apex court to uphold
and restore the death sentence by hanging, which
was
earlier placed on the former Chief Security Officer
(CSO) to the late Head of State, General Sani
Abacha, by a Lagos High Court on January 30,
2012.
Al-Mustapha, Mohammed Abacha and one Lateef
Shofolahan were arraigned before a Lagos High
Court on a two-count criminal charge of conspiracy
to
commit murder and the murder of the Alhaja
Kudirat Abiola on June 4, 1996 in Lagos State.
In the High Court judgment delivered in 2012 by
Justice Moji Dada, the accused persons were found
culpable as charged and sentenced to death by
hanging.
The judgment was later set aside in April 2012 by
the Court of Appeal, for the review of the trial and
the conviction. The three Appellate Court justices, in
a unanimous judgment, not only voided the
decision of
the High Court, they went further to discharge and
acquit the accused on the ground that the evidence
against them was not strong enough to warrant the
death sentence on them.
But the Lagos State government, in a bid to reopen
the case, filed a notice of appeal at the Supreme
Court, asking for the permission of the court to
allow it to
challenge the findings of Appeal Court Justices
Amina Adamu Augie, Rita Nosakhare Pemu and
Fatimo
Omoro Akinbami on the ground of miscarriage of
justice in the matter.
The state prayed the apex court to allow it to
exercise its constitutional right to test the validity of
the decision of the Appeal Court.
It added that its ground of appeal raised arguable
legal and factual issues, especially the question of
whether
there was any direct or circumstantial evidence
establishing the guilt passed on Al-Mustapha in the
murder case.
Lagos State justified its lateness in filing the appeal
on the ground that it set up two legal teams to
review the circumstances of the case and the
verdict of the Court
of Appeal. The government held that it took a long
time for the two legal teams to present their
findings and recommend that an appeal case could
be filed and
sustained.
However, the matter could not go on after it was
raised by the counsel to the Lagos State
government, Mr. J. I. Jacobs. Shortly after Mr.
Joseph Daudu (SAN) announced his appearance for
Al-Mustapha, a
member of the five-man panel of Justices, Centus
Chima Nweze, asked to be excused out of the case.
Justice Nweze’s ground was that he had
participated actively in some aspects of the matter
at the Court of Appeal and as such, it would be
morally wrong and
improper for him to participate in the same matter
at the apex court.
Daudu did not object to the request, which
prompted Justice Bode Rhodes – Vivour to adjourn
the matter till January 12, 2017 for a full panel to
determinewhether the court will allow the appeal to
be heard,
having been filed out of time.

Source: www.versatilereporters.com/2016/11/lagos-state-begs-supreme-court-to-kill.html?m=1